text:
Once feared ICE program ends quietly
Danbury's ICE partnership ends
DANBURY -- The partnership between Danbury and federal immigration officials that divided city residents and led to mass protests ended quietly last month when federal government canceled the program.
The program, dubbed 287g, gave the Danbury Police Department access to a federal immigration database and training for two detectives who were deputized to enforce federal immigration law.
Hundreds of immigrants and their supporters descended on City Hall in February 2008 when the Common Council voted in favor of the partnership.
At the time, members of the immigrant community feared massive raids that would lead to scores of undocumented workers being deported from the country.
According to an official with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the police department identified 14 people for deportation during the fiscal year 2011, while four illegal immigrants were identified for deportation during fiscal 2012.
City officials said the program, despite the early controversy, was worth the effort, while members of the immigrant community said it damaged their relationship with the police department.
"The trust of the immigrant community was broken," said Wilson Hernandez, a past president of the Ecuadorian Civic Center.
He said undocumented workers were afraid to report crimes, especially domestic violence, or cooperate as witnesses in criminal investigations.
"They didn't want to report a crime because they were afraid members of their family would be deported," Hernandez said.
Police Chief Al Baker said he preferred the partnership to Secure Communities, the program that has replaced it because it allowed for a "human element."
Secure Communities, which is active nationwide, automatically runs the fingerprints of arrestees through a federal immigration database.
While the 287g program also provided database access, it was a voluntary program that included federal training for two local detectives deputized to enforce immigration laws.
Baker said while they got some "dangerous criminals" off the streets through 287g, situations arose where local detectives involved in the program could intercede.
"There were times when immigration (agents) were going to make an arrest that would have created family hardships and our guys intervened to prevent that," Baker said. "The program got a bad name from the beginning, but through the years it was demonstrated that it was used very judiciously to support criminal investigations."
While officials said there was a lot of misinformation during the early days of the program, which was focused on removing violent criminals and habitual offenders of immigration law, Hernandez said immigrants had every right to be concerned. Just a few years earlier, he said, local police assisted federal agents in arresting nearly a dozen immigrants, dubbed the "Danbury 11," during a raid at Kennedy Park on Sept. 19, 2006.
Boughton, however, said, "I got a lot of positive feedback about the partnership from the undocumented community."
He said undocumented workers often would tell police officers about other illegal immigrants who were involved in criminal behavior. Boughton said immigrants have more to fear from Secure Communities than 287g.
"We are going to see more collateral arrests," he said.
Council minority leader Tom Saadi, who voted in favor of the partnership in 2008, said he would still support 287g.
"There weren't the mass roundups or the breaking down of doors that people feared," he said, adding the controversy led to better communication between community groups, immigrants and politicians. "Sometimes disputes and agreements can bring people together as friends."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-731-3358; www.twitter.com/DirkPerrefort


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DB Kaleb Chalmers of Greenwood has been on the move most Saturday's this season getting to as many games as he can. He has been to Clemson, USC, North Carolina, Duke, Tennessee and Georgia and is going to Georgia Tech this weekend.
He was at Clemson for the Florida State game and got a strong message from the Tigers who have offered. "They are highly interested in me," Chalmers said. "They want me to come in and play."
Chalmers said Clemson, Tennessee, North Carolina and Duke are making the strongest push for him and each has offered along with Stanford and Georgia Southern. USC has shown interest but has not offered according to Chalmers.
Chalmers does not have a favorite at this point and won't make his decision until the summer.
This season at cornerback he has 60 tackles and 2 interceptions.

subset: commoncrawl


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2Plus/AAS Students
2Plus students, we encourage you to...
Create your SpartanLink account
We want to let you know about the great things happening here. When you sign up for SpartanLink, we'll mail you information about UNCG and invitations to campus events. SpartanLink also gives you access to our online application and content based on your interests.
Plan your campus visit
UNCG is known for its beautiful campus and outstanding facilities. But don't just take our word for it—visit! We offer daily tours, open houses, and other events for prospective students.
If you have earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in certain areas, or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from participating North Carolina community colleges, you may be eligible for admission through UNCG's 2Plus program. The mission of our 2Plus program is to help community college graduates transfer to UNCG with advanced standing and pursue specific UNCG majors. If you have questions about the program, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Application process
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions must receive all application materials by the dates listed. (Please visit Instructions and Deadlines for more information.) We accept 2Plus students for fall and spring semesters. UNCG operates under rolling admission for 2Plus students, so the earlier you apply, the better. You will be notified in writing of the decision.
International students should visit the International Programs Center for additional requirements.
Please visit these pages for additional information about our 2Plus program:
What's next?
Once you have been admitted, you can follow the steps listed in SpartanLink. This will guide you through all the steps you need to complete to enroll at UNCG.
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User:Pat Wagner
We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest.
We must learn to sail in high winds. ~Leif Smith
Pat Wagner and her husband Leif Smith own Pattern Research, Inc. (www.pattern.com), a 32-year-old research and training business in Denver. They specialize in supporting the work of innovators and explorers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors through research, consulting and training. Clients include entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, venture capitalists, authors, elected and appointed officials, nonprofit directors and staff and members of the library community.
Pat is an educator, writer, consultant and trainer and is known for her practical and good-humored approaches to library issues. She has worked for libraries since 1978, focusing on leadership, management and personnel issues as well as strategic planning, project management and trend analysis. Pat is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and is an LAMA/ALA regional institute trainer; she also contributes to library publications. Her archived free online programs for libraries can be viewed at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php
Pat travels constantly through libraryland, from small rural libraries and one-person departments to sprawling districts and state libraries. Her journeys provide her with valuable on-the-ground experiences, hearing and seeing best practices in library and library organizations of all types and sizes. In 2006 alone, she visited library clients in 25 states and Canada. (Need advice about travel?)
Before her life with Pattern Research, Pat had a checkered past in the performing, visual and literary arts as a performance poet, graphic designer, publisher, writer, radio talk show host and printer. She finally earned a liberal arts degree with concentrations in print communication and performance, after dropping out multiple times from three fine academic institutions. Pat prefers the interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving and is humbled by the fact that most forecasters are wrong about most things, most of the time. Her views of emerging technologies are warped by spending three decades with inventors and entrepreneurs, watching really cool ideas fail, despite intelligence, hard work and money. Life is not fair. She is also suspicious of obvious trends; more interested in what most smart people miss in their rush to be right in the short term.
Contact Information:
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
- AIM: email@example.com
- Phone: 303-778-0880
- Website: www.pattern.com
The Physical Plane:
Pat Wagner
Pattern Research, Inc.
PO Box 9100
Denver, CO 80209-0100


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A laptop for every lifestyle
Looking for new laptops? You've come to the right place. The HP laptop store offers the newest in laptop innovations, the latest laptop deals, and a variety of options to meet your personal or business mobility needs. From business and premium laptops that deliver outstanding performance and rugged durability to 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 devices that give you the flexibility to work how you want, HP has a new laptop for everyone.
If you're in the market for a business laptop, we've got a number of options to make sure you're covered. The latest laptops and tablets in the HP Elite family serve as an indispensable partner to help you meet the demands of your work and your life. They're designed to be sleek, secure, and are ideal for collaboration — wherever that collaboration takes place.
For everyday business productivity, HP Pro business laptops and tablets offer great performance features and reliable, tested technology to take care of business anywhere it goes. If simple efficiency is what you're looking for in a new laptop for your business, HP offers affordably priced laptops equipped for business that look good, and get the job done.
The premium family of laptops from HP features stunning design, powerful performance, and exceptional craftsmanship that reinvent expectations of what a new laptop can be. From the flexibility of the HP Spectre x360 to the stylish Spectre Laptop, HP's premium laptops are designed around you. But beyond elegant designs, our Spectre products pack a powerful punch from the inside out, with Intel® Core™ processors, Bang & Olufsen audio, and long-lasting battery life. If sleek design is what you're after, look no further than the HP ENVY and its lean, sculpted profile that's packed with the latest hardware to take on just about anything you want to throw at it — from anywhere you can imagine.
If a new laptop for everyday use is what you have in mind, we've got you covered there too. We've got laptops in a variety of screen sizes, touch screen models, and processor, storage, and memory choices galore. Our trusted, reliable HP Pavilion Laptops have consistently set the bar at home, at school, and on the go. The HP ProBook line of laptops offer numerous configurations to meet your specific needs. And if you can't quite find the configuration that's right for you, that's not a problem — you can configure a new laptop just for you!
But what about the latest gaming laptops? We've got you covered there too. HP OMEN laptops are equipped with powerful hardware and an aggressive design that takes mobile gaming performance seriously. Conquer any challenge in-game from just about anywhere with cutting edge graphics, next-generation VR performance, and bold, powerful audio. It's packed with ports for your unique gaming needs, and can be fine-tuned to let you perform at your peak.
If it's the power of a workstation with portability you're after, HP ZBook business laptopsoffer the perfect blend of power and design. Made for creative professionals on the go with desktop workstation power, the Z Book Studio features a sleek, light, and stunning mobile design. Or, explore the HP ZBook 15 & 17 mobile workstations — our most powerful workstations made for the most demanding loads – be it virtual reality or weightless applications.
Still not sure which one is right for you? Take a look at our laptop deals to see our latest offers and promotions, and find a new laptop that best meets your needs.
1Based on HP's internal analysis of business class notebooks as of January 4, 2016 with >1 million unit annual sales having preinstalled encryption, authentication, malware protection and BIOS-level protection, passing MIL-STD 810G tests with optional docking incorporating power delivery.
Prices, specifications, availability and terms of offers may change without notice. Price protection, price matching or price guarantees do not apply to Intra-day, Daily Deals or limited-time promotions. Quantity limits may apply to orders, including orders for discounted and promotional items. Despite our best efforts, a small number of items may contain pricing, typography, or photography errors. Correct prices and promotions are validated at the time your order is placed. These terms apply only to products sold by HP.com; reseller offers may vary. Items sold by HP.com are not for immediate resale. Orders that do not comply with HP.com terms, conditions, and limitations may be cancelled. Contract and volume customers not eligible.
HP's MSRP is subject to discount. HP's MSRP price is shown as either a stand-alone price or as a strike-through price with a discounted or promotional price also listed. Discounted or promotional pricing is indicated by the presence of an additional higher MSRP strike-through price.
The following applies to HP systems with Intel Skylake or next-generation silicon chip-based system shipping with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 Pro systems downgraded to Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 8.1: This version of Windows running with the processor or chipsets used in this system has limited support from Microsoft. For more information about Microsoft's support, please see Microsoft's Support Lifecycle FAQ at https://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle
Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, Xeon Inside, and Intel Optane are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Battery life: Testing conducted by HP using Google Chrome OS power_LoadTest. Battery life will vary and the maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/testing/power-testing for test details.
Android, Google, Google Play and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc.
Microsoft Windows: Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers and/or software to take full advantage of Windows functionality. See http://www.microsoft.com
Microsoft Windows 10: Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows 10. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows 10 functionality. Windows 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com.
Intel Processor: Intel's numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.
AMD Processor: AMD's model numbering is not a measurement of clock speed. Dual/Quad/Triple Core is a new technology designed to improve performance of multithreaded software products and hardware-aware multitasking operating systems and may require appropriate operating system software for full benefit. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology.
Hard Drive: Actual formatted capacity is less. A portion of the hard drive is reserved for system recovery software — for notebooks up to: 30GB (Windows 8.1 & Windows 7), 12GB (MCE); for desktops up to: 30GB (Windows 8.1), 14GB (Windows 7), 12GB (MCE). For hard drives and storage drives 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = 1 trillion bytes.
HD (High Definition) content required to view HD images
Blu-ray Drive requires the following disclaimer: As Blu-ray is a new format containing new technologies, certain disc, digital connection, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless play back on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and your display may require HDCP support. This Blu-ray drive does not support writing to ultra-high speed CDRW media (16X to 32X advertised performance). HD-DVD movies cannot be played on this PC
Wireless LAN: Wireless access point and Internet service required and not included.
Video playback: Testing conducted by HP consisting of full battery discharge while running a 720p HD video playback with headphone at default volume as the audio output device. Prior to testing, the system was fully charged and set to display brightness of 100 nits, wireless off and WLAN off. Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage.
When you select items from your cart, the corresponding number of Care Packs is added. To add a Care Pack to fewer items, please place separate orders for any items you do not want to cover with a Care Pack.
Some products utilize the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl + Alt + S'; the product information will appear after a short delay. If that doesn't work, this information can also be found on your bar code stickers, typically located on the back of your product.Notebooks
Some products utilize the keyboard shortcut 'Fn + Esc'; the product information will appear after a short delay. If that doesn't work, this information can also be found on your bar code stickers, which may be located behind the battery.Printers (Both HP and Samsung)
Look for the bar code stickers on your printer.The Serial number on a Samsung printer can be used wherever an HP serial number is requested. Samsung printers refer to a 'product number' as a 'model code' designated with 'M/C', and typically start with 'SL-_'.Tablets
Your product information is typically located on the back or bottom edge of your product.


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Senators discuss erosion, NU candidates and pass two bills
Nebraska News Service
LINCOLN—Nebraska lawmakers discussed a variety of topics this week including controlling excessive erosion and rules pertaining to university candidate searches, among other topics. Here is a summary of some of the key bills that were considered.
Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege introduced to the Natural Resources Committee Legislative Bill 896 that would define excessive erosion and implement a process for Natural Resources Districts to resolve erosion issues. Currently, the Erosion and Sediment Control Act limits NRDs in dealing with potential problems, Carlson said.
The bill would define excessive erosion as "the occurrence of erosion in excess of the applicable soil-loss tolerance level, which causes or contributes to an accumulation of sediment upon the lands of any other person to the detriment or damage of such person." Ephemeral and gully erosion also would be included. If an NRD determines that excessive erosion has occurred from activity not associated with cultivation of farmland, LB896 would authorize the district to petition for an immediate cease and desist order until the excess erosion problem was resolved.
The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Feb. 6 on a bill that would change public records requirements for certain university job candidates' application materials. Currently all job application materials of the final four candidates for employment by a public body are public record.
LB1018, sponsored by Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, would make an exception for certain positions at the University of Nebraska. The bill would change the law to release application materials of only the final candidate for president. The bill also would apply to finalists for vice president or chancellor positions.
"The main argument for a closed search is that you will get a better pool of people applying for that position," Hadley said. "One of the reasons that you try and get sitting presidents in the pool is that they have experience at these complicated jobs."
Those who attended the hearing in opposition of the bill are concerned about depriving the public of an opportunity to compare top candidates for the position.
UNL journalism professor, John Bender, said the bill runs contrary to the public nature of a university and a closed search could lead to cynicism about the selection process among the public.
Rose Ann Shannon, news director of KETV in Omaha, said she believes students, faculty and the public have a right to know who is being considered to lead the university. She said the bill could lead to "creeping government secrecy."
Lawmakers also gave final approval on Feb. 7 to Sen. Jeremy Nordquist's bill intended to promote transparency in the cost and quality of health care services in Nebraska.
LB76 establishes a Health Care Data Base Advisory Committee that will make a series of recommendations to improve transparency in the state's health care system. Members of the committee will be appointed by the state Department of Insurance director and will include representatives of academia, the health care and insurance industries and consumer advocates.
The database will be used to:
provide information to consumers and purchasers of health care;
determine the capacity and distribution of existing health care resources;
identify health care needs and inform health care policy;
evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs on improving patient outcomes;
review costs among various treatment settings, providers and approaches; and
improve the quality and affordability of patient health care and health care coverage.
Senators also passed a bill on Feb. 7 that authorizes the state tax commissioner to electronically file levies against personal property.
Sponsored by Hadley, LB33 authorizes the state Department of Revenue to contract with in-state financial institutions for a pilot project to levy against real and personal property of delinquent taxpayers.
The bill also makes a number of other changes, including:
allowing the department to waive the traditional three-year statutory lien period when a taxpayer has entered into an agreement to satisfy an overdue tax liability;
repealing the individual income tax return checkoff for contributions to the Campaign Finance Limitation Cash Fund; and
authorizing a 25 percent penalty for filing a late tobacco products tax return.
Senators passed the bill on a 42-0 vote.
Contact Haley Dover at
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Re: Breast Implants
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:04 am
MollyMormon wrote:Great topic. I am on the fence. I want them but am afraid of the long term results, maintenance, and all that stuff.
I've found that results depend on the surgical technique and the type of implants. Silicone is better, IMO and under the muscle looks more natural, especially if you plan on competing at at lower body weight. Keep in mind that's only my opinion from the top of the bed, I've only worked with about 20 surgeons and they are the ones with the most important answers. If you've had children and/or breast fed then you may want to consider a mastopexy along with the implants. Finding a surgeon who cares about making them look natural can be a challenge, depending on where you live. There is no maintenance although you cannot work out for 4-6 weeks afterwards and you may need a different type of mammogram. I've heard that they last an average of 10 years but I have yet to see the flood of 10 year implant updates you would expect if they really only lasted that long. The biggest complaint I've heard is that women wish they had gone bigger. There can also be loss of sensation on the underside of the breast but women don't notice it after a few months. Costs can range from a few thousand dollars to over ten thousand depending on the area of the country, added procedures (such as a mastopexy), the reputation of the surgeon and the economy. Plastic surgeons are hurting right now so if you were ever to get a discount it would be in the current economy.
As for the scare campaign about silicone implants in the 90s, some great investigative work was done by 60 Minutes to uncover that the studies and "harmed patient groups" were paid for and organized by a group that was a cover for the very lawyers who brought the class action suit(s) against implant manufacturers. This, of course, never made the same headlines that the scare campaign did and it took about a decade to get silicone implants back on the market. We've been implanting various silicone devices in patients for decades with no problems. But you take a bunch of young women with diffuse symptoms, a group of lawyers, a company with deep pockets and mix them all together - you find a class action lawsuit in there.
If you have the money and the desire to get implants then go for it! I've watched some of my friends absolutely blossom with new self confidence afterwards, especially those who have been small most of their lives.


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Discovering Trig Identities (Day 2 of 4)
Lesson 2 of 16
Objective: SWBAT visualize and interpret the trigonometric identities with a focus today on negative angle identities.
Big Idea: Students use TI-Nspire calculators to develop their own understandings of what trigonometric identities are and why they work.
Resources (2)
Resources (1)
Today's closure to the lesson is very important!
At the end of a discovery activity it is important for communicate to students about what they have learned. First, I will have students complete another page in their trig identities book with the negative angle identities. I ran this as a whole group discussion. I asked the students to share what they found and then filtered any incorrect answers by asking the class if they agreed. Then I explicitly summarized the identities on the board just to be sure that every student was getting the correct information (MP6).
Next, I will have students complete the closure questions on Pages 5-7 of Discovering Trig Identities. I plan to provide about 10 minutes for students to work through the last 3 questions on the flipchart (pages 5-7) and to allow a bit of time to go over the last question (MP1). The last question is intended to just see what they came up with. The purpose of this last question is to first communicate to students where we are going with this, but also it gives a great preview to the teacher of who will most likely become a leader in the class for simplifying identities (MP2).


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Katie Couric Pranks James Corden
Watch Katie Couric take a spill down the stairs, as James introduces his guests for The Late Late Show on April Fools Day.
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This entry was posted in Gone Viral, That's Funny, Viral Video and tagged Ad filtering, Analog television, April fool, April Fools, April Fools Day, April fools joke, April Fools Pranks, Ariel Pink, Black raspberry, Blender (magazine), Double check, Dress, Easter Bunny, funny, Funny & Honest Company Logos, funny lol, Instagram April Fools' Day Pranks, Katie Couric, Katie Couric Pranks, Katie Couric Pranks James Corden, keitochansays, LOL, Pink (singer), Pink Saturday, Pranks, Pranks James Corden, stunt, talk show.


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The Crew put a stamp on the 2012 regular season on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over rivals Toronto FC. Here are three things to take from the Black & Gold's season finale.
Playmaker Federico Higuaín produced his second brace of the season to lead the Crew to the win. The Argentine's first goal came in the 17th minute as a deflected ball from the Toronto FC defense landed at Higuaín's feet. The forward took a touch to beat his defender, and placed a left-footed shot to the near post to beat TFC 'keeper Freddy Hall. Higuaín's second came just past the hour mark on a similar sequence, as the Argentine was pulled down in the box by Terry Dunfield to draw a penalty which he then converted.
Higuaín's effort propeled him to five goals and seven assists in just 12 matches since joining the Crew in August. The club's Designated Player hopes to carry that success into 2013.
"In my first twelve games I had the opportunity to get used to the speed of the League, the players and I'm happy about that," Higuaín said after the match. "I'm disappointed not to make the playoffs because that was the team's goal, but next year I expect to have a better year and help the team make the playoffs."
Half the world away, Federico's younger brother Gonzalo scored twice in Real Madrid's 5-1 thrashing of RCD Mallorca. The two brothers' goals coincidentally came within minutes of each other Sunday afternoon.
"[Gonzalo] connects with the goal a lot more than I do," Higuaín said with a laugh through translator Ricardo Iribarren. "But I'm happy for both."
Homegrown winger Ben Speas made his MLS debut on Sunday, earning the start on the left side of Robert Warzycha's midfield. The two-time NCAA Champion provided a threat in the Crew attack, getting off three shots and creating multiple chances from the left flank.
"I think he did well," Warzycha said of Speas postmatch. "He's a player that you always have to be worried about. His dribbling is very good, he can go after defenders and create something. It was good to have him on the field, he deserved it."
"It was awesome, a dream come true," the Stow, Ohio native expressed. "I've been working for 17 years towards this day. It was everything I expected."
"I was confident in myself," Speas continued. "I just wanted to do what I do best, whether it's dribbling at guys or taking some shots. I knew that coming out of the game, or when the game is over, I wanted to make sure I had gotten some shots in at least and show what I could do."
With the win, the 2012 Crew became the best team in MLS history not to qualify for the postseason with 52 points and a 15-12-7 record. The Black & Gold finished in sixth place on the Eastern Conference table, just one point behind the Houston Dynamo in the final playoff spot.
Despite missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007, the pieces are in place for success in 2013.
"It's a competitive Eastern Conference this year," goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum said. "Sometimes it works out that way where you put up a good number [of points] and it's not enough in one conference where it would have been enough in another [conference]. We just have to try and build for next year and we have a good result to build off of here tonight."
Warzycha added, "I think we are very disappointed that we didn't make the playoffs. I don't think we can say that the season was successful because we didn't make the playoffs, we didn't win the [Lamar Hunt U.S.] Open Cup. But there were some positive things that happened this year. We have to look at the last year and fix [the problems] for next year, for the next season."


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Blight battle in Bridgeport
BRIDGEPORT -- Shuttered factories and foreclosed or absentee-landlord owned homes are common targets of the city's aggressive anti-blight initiative.
Now freshman City Councilman Robert Halstead, D-132, and wife Joan Carty, an affordable housing advocate, are out to prove the program is used to harass responsible property owners whose housekeeping standards don't fit someone's idea of a Better Homes and Gardens photo shoot.
The Halsteads found themselves in the blight inspectors' bulls-eye on three separate dates -- Sept. 10, Sept. 16 and Oct. 2 -- for overgrowth, construction debris, bulk items and furniture in their driveway and yard.
Or, as the couple, which is taking the matter to court, argues: typical household items such as a ladder, barbecue equipment, mulch storage bins, a chair that was under repair, milk crates and trays of plants for some of the community gardens the Halsteads organized.
Those were the items that inspectors found by opening a gate and entering the private backyard.
"I take a lot of pride in the house," said Halstead of the three-story residence at 55 Sterling Place, an attractive neighborhood off Brooklawn Avenue where his family has lived since 1999.
It was even featured recently in a 2009 film, "Away We Go," Halstead said.
"And I've done a lot to fix up blighted properties," he said. "I don't want anybody to be able to say Bob Halstead was cited for blight on his property. I want that out."
Halstead at one time worked for the city on housing, planning and land-use issues.
The initial, Sept. 10 violation, which ultimately lead to an accrued $1,500 in fines, also fell on the day Halstead and a running mate campaigning as "independent Democrats" won council primaries against Democratic incumbents.
Halstead said he believed it was to make him look bad and cost him votes.
"The inspection was in response to a complaint from the community about questionable conditions at the property site," said William Kaempffer, a spokesman for the city. " After an appeals process, the fine was reduced to $100, which is not uncommon. The bottom line is that this was nothing more than a case of city employees doing their jobs by attempting to address concerns of the neighborhood."
Officials said the complaint also alleged Halstead and Carty were raising chickens and had an illegal apartment, but those issues were not substantiated.
Halstead and Carty, after initially demanding an apology from Mayor Bill Finch, want the matter to go away entirely.
Carty hired attorney James O'Donnell, who, while trying to negotiate with the city, is also pursuing a court hearing before a judge to have the case dismissed.
"To resolve it will require making them whole for the aggravation and for defending themselves," said O'Donnell, adding he believes City Hall is usually not challenged in court over blight because of the legal costs.
"The idea is most people say, `It's $100. It's not worth fighting," he said.
For several years the city, particularly under Finch, a Democrat who has had an on-again, off-again working relationship with Halstead for years, has been ramping up blight enforcement not only in response to resident complaints, but to also improve Bridgeport's image.
Just a few years ago both Forbes Magazine and the "Family Guy" cartoon on Fox were taking potshots at conditions in the Park City.
In 2010, the Fox sitcom, created by Seth MacFarlane, who grew up in Kent, claimed Bridgeport was "among the world leaders in abandoned buildings, shattered glass, boarded-up windows," and Forbes in 2012 named the city the fourth-dirtiest in America.
Blight enforcement is run by Chris Rosario, who is also active in Democratic Party politics and a potential candidate this year for the state Legislature.
Occasionally, the Finch administration has held press events to highlight the war on blight, such as a year ago when the city demolished a vacant home on Wessels Avenue.
Data on violations and fines for 2013 was not immediately available. The latest city budget proposal contains information from 2011, when blight enforcement was estimated to have issued 650 citations and imposed 590 fines that start at $100 per day.
There were no associated total revenues. But fines can reach staggering amounts, such as $72,000 for one property last year, according to the Finch administration. If left unpaid, the city can place liens on the property.
Most recently, Finch and Rosario have been urging the City Council to increase blight fines from $100 per day to $250 and to allow a portion of that money to be set aside for neighborhood improvements.
"Our goal isn't to take people's properties or take people's money," Rosario said recently. "We're looking to get their attention and get them to do the right thing and fulfill their obligations as property owners."
Finch, in a separate recent statement, echoed those sentiments.
"One blighted house can impact an entire block," Finch said last month. "I think property owners have a reasonable expectation that their neighbors will make an effort to keep their properties clean. And if they don't, I think residents should have a realistic expectation that their government will try to help them."
O'Donnell said blight enforcement is "a wonderful idea," particularly if it curbs abuses by out-of-town property owners.
"But this aesthetic stuff is for the birds," O'Donnell said, arguing the existing blight ordinance leaves too much open to inspectors' interpretation.
For example, while blighted conditions include properties that pose "a serious or immediate danger" are "dilapidated" and "attracting illegal activity," structures can also be cited for not reflecting "the level of upkeep of surrounding premises and properties."
"They basically do whatever they want to do," O'Donnell said. In his petition to the court, O'Donnell calls the blight ordinance "constitutionally defective because it fails to provide sufficient definition to avoid arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement in violation of the petitioner's right to due process."
And, O'Donnell said, specifically in his clients' case, the statute was used "in an attempt to embarrass (Halstead) as a means of political retribution."
A drive past Halstead's and Carty's home this week did not reveal any obvious blight. The couple is doing some grounds work on one side. Some of the large house, which is gray with white trim, needs a little bit of cosmetic work. The front lawn -- with a Buddha statue, purple flowering ground cover and some tulips, a gravel path, a porch strewn with decorative lights and rain barrels to recycle gutter water -- might not meet everyone's standards.
Halstead has had similar run-ins with the city before. In 2012 City Hall cited a South End community garden he helped oversee for blight. But a hearing officer threw out the $500 worth of fines.
Halstead on his own is pursuing a Freedom of Information request with Bridgeport seeking not only five year's worth of blight notices citywide, but all communications related to his specific case, and information on the training of staff in blight enforcement.
Freshman Councilwoman Eneida Martinez-Walker, D-139, like Halstead an activist recently elected to the council, has had plenty of experience with blighted properties in her East End district.
"I haven't received any complaints of any unfair treatment on blight," she said. "(Rosario) definitely goes out of his way to make exceptions to folks. There have been a lot of houses in the community that have had blight issues and I know they are given the opportunity to clean up before they are even given a fine."
One East End landlord who contacted Hearst Connecticut Media over the winter to complain about being unfairly targeted by blight enforcers said ultimately his fines were waived.
"I suppose they try to keep the city clean, but if you're a landlord, you cannot constantly be there," said the individual, who did not want to be identified for fear of being targeted again.
But, the landlord acknowledged, they were satisfied with the blight appeal and hearing process.
"They were fair," the landlord said. "At least they listened to what I have to say."
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-414-0712; http://twitter.com/blockhart1


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<span class="ev_code_RED">
Watch for these consolidations over the next year:
1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R. Grace Co. Will merge and become:
Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.
2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become:
Poly, Warner Cracker.
3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become:
4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become:
ZipAudiDoDa .
5. FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become:
6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become:
Fairwell Honeychild.
7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:
8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become:
Knott NOW!
And finally...
9. Victoria 's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:


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Welcome to my place! It's great to have you here! AN INTERESTING WEB DESTINATION
Sunday, December 30, 2012
It is not called Death Valley for no reason
throwing out a reading of 136.4 degrees claimed by the city of Al Aziziyah, Libya on Sept. 13, 1922 making the 134-degree reading registered on July 10, 1913, at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley the official world record as the hottest place on earth. 'It's about time for science, but I think we all knew it was coming,' says Randy Banis. 'You don't underestimate Death Valley. Most of us enthusiasts are proud that the extremes that we have known about at Death Valley are indeed the most harsh on earth.' The final report by 13 climatologists appointed by the World Meteorological Organization, the climate agency of the United Nations, found five reasons to disqualify the Libya claim, including questionable instruments, an inexperienced observer who made the reading, and the fact that the reading was anomalous for that region and in the context of other temperatures reported in Libya that day. 'The more we looked at it, the more obvious it appeared to be an error,' says Christopher C. Burt, a meteorologist with Weather Underground who started the debate in a blog post in 2010."
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DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 19 rebounds, and Derrick Williams scored a career-high 31 to pace the Sacramento Kings to a 112-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
Using just 10 players, the Kings enjoyed one of their better games offensively all season. They led by 19 points after three quarters and by as many as 24 points in the fourth in winning their second straight.
Earlier in the day, the Kings completed a seven-player deal with Toronto that brought them Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes went to the Raptors.
Monta Ellis had 21 points for the Mavericks, who had won three straight, including the last two on the road. The loss also snapped a five-game win streak against the Kings.


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Here's a poem that I wrote for my Dad back in 1993, to commemorate his 60th birthday. We threw a huge birthday party and printed the poem out on cardstock and hung it up at the party. The poem became a huge birthday card and everyone who attended the party got to sign it and leave a little message.
A Poem to Commemorate John Sexton's 60th Birthday
John Sexton is about to turn sixty years old;
He's come a long ways, so let the story be told.
This tale begins in St. Paul on a farm–
With a cute little kid, full of kindness and charm.
John lived on Bernard, two kids to a bed,
A house full of boys, run by Sugar and Ted.
They worked on the farm, through rain, snow and sleet
Looking forward all day to a slice of that teat.
Soon John went to Cretin, like many young men,
Where he learned honor and discipline and use of the pen.
Later came the army, when he volunteered to go.
Though about to be drafted—he was required to show.
After his time in Korea, that brief little stint,
John returned home and decided to print.
He went to work for his dad at the shop
And learned to run presses instead of a mop.
John in his twenties knew many young women;
He'd wine them and dine them or just take them swimmin'.
Show them the town, dance cheek to cheek,
John's goal at this time: "A new girl each week!"
Until the day that he met a nurse named Claudette;
They both knew this was it, the minute they met.
In a very short while they decided to wed,
And a family of four now had to be fed.
John was happy with Claudette, Mike & Joe.
And the house on Summit with a lawn he could mow.
But two boys was too dull, they needed a spark,
So along came Sean, followed by Mark.
They all lived in Eagan, in the house that John built;
And the boys played outside, in the mud, sand and silt.
But with a house full of men, Claudette needed some peace,
So they asked for a girl, and along came Denise.
Having a daughter was so nice when he tried it,
That John wanted some others, and so they decided–
"We need a few more kids—we can't settle for five",
So Natalie & Nicole were the next to arrive.
John now, it seemed, was the father of seven.
And life was quite good, though not always heaven.
Since he loved them all deeply, through good times and bad,
He was the best father they could have ever had.
One by one the kids got older, and began to move away–
To start their own lives, and work instead of play,
But very soon the babies started to be born
And the call "grandpa" echoed through the corn.
Now John works in the house up on the hill
And toils at the computer, 'till he's had his fill.
He plans new projects, things to build or do
And he and Claudette travel, visiting places new.
What comes next for John? It's hard to tell;
But the first sixty years have sure been swell.
He's done so much and traveled so far,
And someday he'll finish that little green car.
So as you turn sixty John, we would just like to say,
That it's been an adventure, every step of the way.
And so it should come as no great surprise
That we think that you're truly the greatest of guys.
–Sean Sexton, 1993
Sadly, John passed away in 2005, after a battle with Melanoma. We still miss him terribly, but are so grateful for the wonderful legacy of family and friends that he left behind.


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The FUJIFILM X-E3 features APS-C 24.3 megapixel X-TransTM*1 CMOS III sensor and the X-Processor Pro high-speed image processing engine. The FUJIFILM X-E3 is the first X Series model to feature Bluetooth®*2 low energy wireless communication. You can pair the camera with your smartphone or tablet device for easy transfer of pictures taken using minimal power. The LCD monitor, on the back of the camera, uses a static touchscreen panel which supports the conventional "Touch Shot", "Touch AF" and "Focus Area Selection" capabilities. An all-new "Touch Function" feature will be available on the FUJIFILM X-E3, which enables gesture control like flick and pinch zoom, to further enhance touchscreen operation. The AF algorithm has been updated to enhance the camera's performance for tracking a moving subject. The FUJIFILM X-E3's premium exterior design, agility and functional beauty make it a mirrorless camera that is "a pleasure to own and fun to shoot with" at the same time.
Learn more about FUJIFILM X-E3 specification
*1 X-Trans is a trademark or registered trademark of FUJIFILM Corporation.
*2 The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by FUJIFILM Corporation is under license.
Xyza Cruz Bacani captures the public display of affection in the streets of Hong Kong
Mahalarp Teeradechoyothin explores his homeland Thailand with the X-E3
X-Photographer Chalit Padungcheep captures the scenery in Thailand with the new X-E3
X-Photographer Victoria Wrights travels with the new X-E3
Alison Conklin uses X-E3 and XF80mm macro lens for food photography
Rafa Pérez from Spain goes around the city for snap shooting with the X-E3
X-Photographer Marco Tortato captures his hometown Venice with the X-E3
X-Photographer Seth K Hughes travels with the X-E3


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© ® The Nobel Foundation
IPCC honoured with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
Phone: +41-22-730-8208/84 e-mail:
The impacts of short-term weather events on human health have been further
elucidated since the SAR, particularly in relation to periods of thermal stress,
the modulation of air pollution impacts, the impacts of storms and floods, and
the influences of seasonal and interannual climatic variability on infectious
diseases. There has been increased understanding of the determinants of population
vulnerability to adverse health impacts and the possibilities for adaptive responses.
Many vector-, food-, and water-borne infectious diseases are known to be sensitive
to changes in climatic conditions. From results of most predictive model studies,
there is medium to high confidence6
that, under climate change scenarios, there would be a net increase in the geographic
range of potential transmission of malaria and dengue-two vector-borne
infections each of which currently impinge on 40-50% of the world population.10
Within their present ranges, these and many other infectious diseases would
tend to increase in incidence and seasonality-although regional decreases
would occur in some infectious diseases. In all cases, however, actual disease
occurrence is strongly influenced by local environmental conditions, socioeconomic
circumstances, and public health infrastructure. [4.7]
Projected climate change will be accompanied by an increase in heat waves,
often exacerbated by increased humidity and urban air pollution, which would
cause an increase in heat-related deaths and illness episodes. The evidence
indicates that the impact would be greatest in urban populations, affecting
particularly the elderly, sick, and those without access to air-conditioning
(high confidence6).
Limited evidence indicates that in some temperate countries reduced winter deaths
would outnumber increased summer deaths (medium confidence6);
yet, published research has been largely confined to populations in developed
countries, thus precluding a generalized comparison of changes in summer and
winter mortality. [3.5 and 4.7]
Extensive experience makes clear that any increase in flooding will increase
the risk of drowning, diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases, and, in developing
countries, hunger and malnutrition (high confidence6).
If cyclones were to increase regionally, devastating impacts would often occur,
particularly in densely settled populations with inadequate resources. A reduction
in crop yields and food production because of climate change in some regions,
particularly in the tropics, will predispose food-insecure populations to malnutrition,
leading to impaired child development and decreased adult activity. Socioeconomic
disruptions could occur in some regions, impairing both livelihoods and health.
[3.5, 4.1, 4.2,
4.5, and 4.7]
For each anticipated adverse health impact there is a range of social, institutional,
technological, and behavioral adaptation options to lessen that impact. Adaptations
could, for example, encompass strengthening of the public health infrastructure,
health-oriented management of the environment (including air and water quality,
food safety, urban and housing design, and surface water management), and the
provision of appropriate medical care facilities. Overall, the adverse health
impacts of climate change will be greatest in vulnerable lower income populations,
predominantly within tropical/subtropical countries. Adaptive policies would,
in general, reduce these impacts. [4.7]
Table of contents
IPCC Homepage


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Challenge #9: Make Good Use of Inspiring Quotes Jul 8, 2015 13:45:50 GMT 9
Challenge #9: Make Good Use of Inspiring Quotes
Challenge #9: Make Good Use of Inspiring Quotes
What's on your mind right now? Just type and hit "Enter" to share it here!
Adam Beck: Mayken, that's true, but in our case, the U.S. didn't make it to the World Cup this time! Japan has gone through, but they'll probably get knocked out very soon... Jun 30, 2018 7:22:16 GMT 9
Adam Beck: Wojtek, Poland won! I was disappointed, though, to see Japan hold the ball at the end of the game because they only wanted to go through to the next round. I understand why they did that but I wish they had played harder... Jun 30, 2018 7:24:42 GMT 9
Wojtek: Well, it suited both teams to slow down the ball. However, it was really unexpected and peculiar Jul 1, 2018 1:16:27 GMT 9
Mayken: On the train from Cologne to my hometown, I saw a boy about 9/10 and his older sister. She was fluent in German but spoke French with a slight accent, he spoke only French. They were visiting their grandparents. I was intrigued but didn't ask. Jul 1, 2018 22:06:55 GMT 9
Wojtek: Does anyone know an online English speech language therapist? I thought that it could be a good idea to get my girl evaluated in her ml... Jul 6, 2018 4:02:38 GMT 9 *
Mayken: Yay! My 8-year-old daughter passed her ml swim test today! After swimming & diving, the pool attendant asked her to recite the swimming/safety rules (our recent captive reading), and she knew them all! Jul 6, 2018 21:28:23 GMT 9 *
Adam Beck: NEW! Bilingual Lives: Ana Cristina Gluck, Author and Publisher of Multilingual Books for Children (with a Book Giveaway!) buff.ly/2ziSQ4J Jul 7, 2018 11:28:32 GMT 9
Agnese: First words. What to expect? My son is 10 months old. He's still babbling, but I've noticed some different sounds depending on the situation. I wonder if he'll start saying his first words in the next weeks (or months, who knows?). What should I expect? Jul 11, 2018 0:30:24 GMT 9 *
Amy: Don't expect anything Agnese. Just let it happen, and then what he says will hit you like a train. It's an amazing moment. Just live it and don't overthink it. Whatever he says, in whatever language it is, it is a magical moment. Jul 11, 2018 5:11:14 GMT 9 *
Agnese: I've recently found a further (annoying) challenge: when I speak ml (Italian) to my child (10m) in front of ML acquaintances, they are making jokes about what I said (mostly accent, similar unrelated words...). What do you think is the best way to act? Jul 15, 2018 13:04:11 GMT 9 *
Amy: Agnese, it is simply because they never had the opportunity to be acquainted so closely to that language. Just smile and keep going. Over time (even if this may seem long), the comments will fade. Don't show your son you are embarrassed by your ml. Jul 16, 2018 3:56:41 GMT 9
Adam Beck: Agnese, I strongly second Amy's advice! Stay strong and continue speaking Italian! Jul 18, 2018 6:22:37 GMT 9 *
Adam Beck: And Agnese, keep in mind that, above all, the highest priority is your bilingual aim, not the other passing concerns that are part of this experience (for us all). Don't let these distract you from the greater goal. Jul 18, 2018 6:24:49 GMT 9 *
Agnese: Thank you! After this setback I feel stronger than ever! The same day of the incident I ordered plenty of books in the ml on Amazon and I'm reading every day new research on bilingualism and bilingual education. I'm ready to defend my goal! Thanks Jul 19, 2018 18:37:58 GMT 9
Amy: Go Agnese, go! If you want information on bilingualism, visit the website of THE bilingualism expert, François Grosjean: www.francoisgrosjean.ch/myths_en.html Jul 20, 2018 3:44:12 GMT 9
Agnese: Thank you for the suggestion! Jul 21, 2018 15:40:43 GMT 9
Mayken: My daughter met some inversed ML/ml kids today who live in our ml country. Their parents probably weren't thrilled they found n ML (for them) friend in their ml country. I'm sorry...a little bit. Aug 7, 2018 2:07:34 GMT 9 *
Adam Beck: NEW POST AT BILINGUAL MONKEYS: Make the Most of Your Precious Time with Grandparents, Whether Near or Far bilingualmonkeys.com/make-the-most-of-your-precious-time-with-grandparents/ Aug 11, 2018 9:35:23 GMT 9
Adam Beck: ANOTHER NEW POST AT BILINGUAL MONKEYS: 5 Key Ways to Fortify Your Home Environment for Bilingual Success bilingualmonkeys.com/5-key-ways-to-fortify-your-home-for-bilingual-success/ Aug 15, 2018 16:07:10 GMT 9


text:
Though knitted lace can stand beautifully on its own, it becomes something even more with the addition of color. Painting
your finished lace with dye can accentuate its pictoral and abstract
elements, alter them, or even suggest new ones. For this introduction
to lace painting, I have chosen several familiar lace patterns from Barbara Walker to illustrate the possibilities. Read More.


text:
CepEsperu Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) offers support services covering many different topics and conditions.
The Office of Patient and Family Relations of CepEsperu Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) is responsible for providing assistance to patients during their stay.
Advanced care directives are specific instructions, prepared in advance, that are intended to direct a person's medical care if he or she becomes unable to do so in the future.
Help completing these documents is available during regular business hours through the Department of Chaplaincy, -4745. After business hours, or in urgent situations, call the Nursing Office at -3418.
Language services are coordinated by the Office of Patient and Family Relations.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.


text:
Free from the constraints of professional bike racing, Victoria Pendleton has admitted she would love to get back to mountain biking and even to try BMXing after retiring from competitive action.
The Olympic gold medallist called time on her track cycling career following London 2012, but in an interview with Cooler, revealed her love for all things two-wheeled.
"I'd really like to start mountain biking again as that's been off the radar for fear of injury but that's where I used to enjoy cycling the most, mountain biking holidays when I was 16/17 years old," said Pendleton.
"I would love to get on the BMX track too, the one at the velodrome is amazing but Shanaze Reade (Team GB BMX rider) took me up on the ramp once and I was like, "No I don't think so!" I had to hold onto the railing on the way down again. It's a mind-blowing sport."
The demands placed on a Olympic athlete extend to their activities away from their sport, and Pendleton revealed she was banned from extreme sports like skiing when training.
"I love winter sports," continued Pendleton. "I used to dream about going skiing as a cyclist, I used to literally dream about it, because I learnt how to ski then it was banned when I was training.
"I also lived in Switzerland for 18 months and for 12 of those months I lived in a ski resort."
But were those sacrifices worth it? An incredible haul of Olympic medals and world championship titles suggests so.
And when asked what was her most significant achievement was on the bike, Pendleton was torn between two.
"It's a difficult decision between my first World Title in 2005 and my Olympic gold at London 2012.
"I would have retired in 2008 after my gold at the Beijing Olympics, but you can't pass up an opportunity to perform on home turf."
Gold and silver medals followed at the Olympic velodrome, before Pendleton managed to catch Mo Farah running for gold on the last day of track and field - an "incredible" experience.
To read the full Cooler interview, click here...
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Across the country, traffic is getting worse. That's a good thing — at least in terms of economic indicators. More people on the roads means more people are headed to jobs and the economy is bouncing back.
One of the cities that has a major problem with traffic is Austin, Texas. Approximately 70 new cars hit the streets daily in Austin, making it one of the top five most congested cities in America, according to a new traffic scorecard by INRIX, a traffic research firm.
Robert Spillar, director of the Austin Transportation Department, joins Here & Now's Robin Young to discuss what the city is doing do deal with traffic.
- Robert Spillar, director of the Austin Transportation Department.
It's HERE AND NOW.
And now for some good news about traffic congestion - it's getting worse. On average, drivers in cities like Honolulu, San Francisco, Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seattle are spending more time - over a week's worth in one year - sitting in traffic. Boston has the largest increase in congestion in the country. Why is that good news? Well, because the traffic research firm INRIX looks at traffic congestion to gauge a city's economic health.
They say cities with increased traffic are bouncing back from the recession. But, of course, there's a downside. Austin was the fourth-most congested city in America this year. Robert Spillar is director of the Austin Transportation Department. Robert, woo-hoo. Congratulations.
ROBERT SPILLAR: Yeah. Thank you.
YOUNG: Well, it is - as the researchers behind this report point out, it's the good news and the bad news. And they say the question is, how do you make congestion go from an indicator of economic health, with all these people coming to cities like Austin, to an inhibitor of economic growth? How bad is the traffic in Austin?
SPILLAR: Well, you know, it really is a balancing act. Like you said, you know, our congestion here in the Austin region is really caused by our red-hot economy right now. You know, we have an unemployment rate under 5 percent. Looking out my window right now, I can count between 12 and 20 tower cranes building new employment in our main activity center right now.
So, you know, the congestion really is a barometer of how successful our economy is right now. And you know, we're doing a range of things to deal with congestion. We are really focusing on giving folks the maximum number of travel choices. So we're investing in new transit...
YOUNG: Like what?
SPILLAR: Well, we're bringing in - we just launched a bus rapid transit through town. So we have smarter buses that speak to our signal system. The signals allow the buses to get through - if they're running late, get back onto schedule.
YOUNG: Just elaborate on that. It's fascinating. So these are smart buses...
SPILLAR: Yeah.
YOUNG: ...a new technology, they can make a light go green?
SPILLAR: Well, they can ask the light signal system to hold the green for a little bit. So it's not preemption, but what it does is if a bus is behind, the signal system will sense that and maybe hold that light green for just a little bit longer to get the bus through. But then in our downtown area, you know, we're giving transit its own lane to get through our most congested part of our urban street system.
The other thing we're investing in is express lanes on a number of our regional freeways. So those are lanes that will add reliability to the existing freeway system. A lot of our freeways - we only have two, really, coming into our central area. So we don't have like this grid of freeways like you see in Los Angeles and maybe New York. We have two that come into our downtown.
YOUNG: But you have gridlock. You do. I mean, people are spending 41.2 hours in their cars. That's more congestion that New York, where, of course, actually...
SPILLAR: Yeah.
YOUNG: That's actually kind of not fair because not as many people drive in and around Manhattan. But your mayor recently spoke and pointed out that you're getting 110 new people per day - that's fantastic - people coming in because of jobs - but that's 70 new cars. And he said rail or fail. When are you going to get more rail?
SPILLAR: Right now we have a commuter rail system that reaches out - a single line that reaches out about 27 - almost 30 miles out to one sector of our suburban community. We are actively debating building rail right now, and we may be going to the voters this November to have a conversation about the next investment.
This city really has experienced a growth here in the last 10 or 15 years, and so there was a period in time where our investment and our current transportation system was sufficient to meet our needs. And now we're facing these stresses in terms of new urban development, and so now is the time to start talking about higher orders of transportation. So this is really our time.
YOUNG: Well, you mentioned a vote. We're reading in the Community Impact online news, impactnews.com, that there was a vote in 2000 but it was a metro-wide vote and it failed. The mayor hopes that if it's just among Austin residents, who might be better seeing this influx of people and be more likely to vote, that this will pass. How do you convince people that they need more rail to lighten up the roads?
SPILLAR: Well, you know, here's what we're doing. We're giving people choices. And that's really what we are promoting in terms of dealing with congestion. And so we're having an active community discussion about the benefits of rail in addition to roadway investments. Our chamber of commerce here is fairly supportive because, you know, they say we need everything. And so it's not that we're focused only on rail. We're focused on bicycles. We're focused on new sidewalks. We're certainly focused on buses and rails, but we're also focused on completing the roadway network where we can.
There are no silver bullets in transportation anymore, especially in a fast-growing community like Austin. We need to invest in a lot of different transportation technologies.
YOUNG: Well, your mayor said in his state of the city address that it's a traffic crisis, and it could undermine everything Austin has done. It's not just an annoyance. It's a deadly, serious threat.
SPILLAR: It absolutely is. You know, we have not seen the number of vehicle trips per day increase in 20 years. It's been sort of constant. But what we haven't seen is the amount of construction going on that we see right now. And so the issue about congestion, it's really an economic issue. How do we get the next 10, 20, 30,000 employees to our central activity center? You know, sort of the ultimate freedom of travel is giving people choices. Austin, I think, is really on the forefront.
We're actively planning for, you know, when automated cars come to the marketplace. We're actively planning for that generation of folks that don't want to own their own car. They want to borrow a car or rent a car when they need it or share a car.
You know, I think about my kids. What's interesting is I have two kids, and one of them I had to pry out of the passenger seat because he just did not want to drive. That's so foreign for some us that are in our 40s that, you know, the first thing we wanted to do was get a car when we were 14 or 15 years old. A lot of young people today really don't really care about driving that much, or owning a car, you know?
YOUNG: Yeah. I've noticed - yeah. Yeah. They'll ride their bike.
SPILLAR: And so we're - yeah. Or, you know, or use a car share. You know, electricity and some of the new technology coming to the auto industry is going to dramatically change the transportation industry. I mean, it's really going to be sort of what they call disruptive technologies. It's going to force us to change. You know, the automated car is going to be great, but still, it's not going to meet, I don't think, the needs of moving lots of people all at once. So transit is still important.
Sometimes it's like back to the future. You know, sometimes the best solutions are older solutions that get modernized. So, you know, when we're talking about new urban rail, it really is the most modern European tram or light rail-type systems. They can move lots of people to where they want to go. We're really working hard to focus on not just today's mobility issues, but also tomorrow's.
YOUNG: Wow. You're doing so much in Austin. And still, you have a crisis in transportation.
SPILLAR: And still we have a crisis. That's right.
YOUNG: Robert Spillar, director of the Austin Transportation Department, thanks so much for speaking with us.
SPILLAR: Yeah. It's been a real pleasure. Thank you.
YOUNG: So in the INRIX survey, 61 of a hundred cities saw increased congestion. That's compared to 2012, when only six cities saw an increase. Are you feeling it in maybe an economic upturn where you are? Let us know at hereandnow.org. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Baylor Professor Corey Carbonara Receives an Award from the International Cinematographers GuildSept. 23, 2013
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WACO, Texas (Sept. 23, 2013) -- Corey P. Carbonara, Ph.D., a professor of film and digital media in Baylor University's College of Arts & Sciences, has been named the recipient of the Nat Tiffen Award for outstanding educational contributions to the art and craft of cinematography, awarded Sept. 27 in Los Angeles by the International Cinematographers Guild.
Carbonara, director of the Digital Communication Technologies Project at Baylor, was one of four individuals chosen to receive awards.
"These gentlemen represent the very highest achievements in their fields, be it cinematography, education or journalism," said Steven Poster, guild president.
Carbonara has served in a variety of capacities on state, national and international committees and panels for the Federal Communications Commission, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and many other prominent organizations. He is a longtime member of the American Society of Lighting Designers.
"I am so honored to have been selected by the International Cinematographers Guild to receive the prestigious Nat Tiffen Award for outstanding educational contributions to the art and craft of cinematography," Carbonara said. "Getting this from the ICG and having it presented to me at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse is such a wonderful blessing. I have always admired the creative genius of the ASC and ICG over the years, and to receive an award named after Nat Tiffen humbles me."
He said the ASC and ICG have illustrated their educational outreach to nurture future cinematographers.
"Many cinematographers from the ASC and the ICG have supported our work at Baylor with internships and master classes," Carbonara said. "The Emerging Cinematography Awards by the International Cinematographers Guild is a clear example of such dedication to education."
He said that nine cinematographers associated with the ASC have served as mentors to him and have directly helped his students at Baylor over the years. Those are Steven Poster, ASC; George Spiro Dibie, ASC; John Hora, ASC; Curtis Clark, ASC; John Dykstra, ASC; John Alonzo, ASC; Conrad Hall, ASC; Shane Hurlbut, ASC; and Jonathan Erland.
In addition, the Tiffen Company has "a sterling dedication to education and has supported Baylor by sponsoring a series of master classes from award-winning cinematographers who came to our campus," Carbonara said. "A particular note of thanks must be given to Steven Tiffen and his wonderful team for all of the support and encouragement they give our students majoring in Film and Digital Media."
He said that his honor "has to be shared with all of my fellow dedicated FDM colleagues, students and alumni whose creative works over the years reflect all of the efforts that this award is based on. I am particularly also humbled to be included with such a prestigious list of honorees such as Julio Macat, ASC, Mark Weingartner, and Kristopher Tapley.
"When Steven Poster, ASC the president of the Guild called to tell me about the award, I stopped in my tracks and was shocked ... it all still feels a bit surreal."
Carbonara, a Chicago native, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in radio/television/film from the University of Texas at Austin.
He began his career as a lighting designer for a network syndicated public affairs show for ABC-TV. In 1980, he began work as a cinematographer and director of remote productions for Columbia Pictures/Editel Chicago, serving as an online editor and working on more than 100 hundred TV commercial spots and industrial films for a number of advertising agencies and their top clients. He worked freelance as a lighting consultant for many of HBO's early TV concerts.
Carbonara also has worked in corporate video for Caterpillar Tractor Company as a producer/director/cinematographer and editor; and as the first product manager of high-definition video systems for the TV and cinema industries. In 1985, he worked on the first high-definition short film -- Arrival -- produced by the American Film Institute and starring Robert Downey, Jr. He also has been a digital HD technical consultant for Apogee, Inc.
Carbonara was the first product manager for Sony of their High Definition Video Systems. After his work at Sony, Carbonara began cinematography and post-production at Baylor. He and his colleague, Michael Korpi, Ph.D., have worked on numerous Christian documentaries and experimental HD and film tests for digital cinema.
In 2000, Texas Monthly distinguished Carbonara as one of the "... Most Powerful Texans in High Tech." He also is a member of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers.
Four major Hollywood corporations presented the awards as part of the celebrations of the Guild's 17th annual Emerging Cinematographer Awards.
The International Cinematographers Guild represents more than 7,000 members who work in film, television and commercials as photography directors, camera operators, visual effects supervisors, still photographers, camera assistants, film loaders, camera crews and publicists.
Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University's oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 26 academic departments and 13 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines.
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by Sarah Dollendorf
The eighth annual "Paddles Up Niagara," presented by the Niagara River Greenway Commission - the organization that initially created a 25-mile length paddle-sport trail in the Niagara River in 2006 - is to take place along the southeastern shores of Grand Island on Saturday, July 27.
Hosted by Beaver Island State Park, the Town of Grand Island, Anchor Marine and WEKANU, the event's activities will span throughout the day, with the main attraction consisting of a non-competitive 4.8-mile paddle from the Little Beaver launch site around to the East River Marsh site and back to Little Beaver within the state park.
The phrase "paddles up" is derived from the Native American practice of pointing paddles skyward when coming to shore to signify peace and to ask for permission to land for food and rest. Thus, with Grand Island's strong ties to the once Native American lands, a long-standing native custom is honored through the name "Paddles Up Niagara," as well as through each participant's commencement of a long journey on the water.
"We invite the Tuscarora Nation, and typically they send a representative who gives their Native American blessing to the event through the cherishing of the sun, sky, wind, water and the entire environment," said Rob Belue, Greenway Commission executive director.
"Paddles Up Niagara" will begin after this traditional Native American departure ceremony at 11:30 a.m., "in order for us to fully respect and enjoy the paddle," Belue said.
Other events will take place before the canoe and kayak paddle, with a "Poker Run" kicking off the day's activities at 7 a.m. It launches at East River Marsh across Strawberry Island. That is followed by the Paddle Fair at 8:30 a.m., where friends and family - paddlers and non-paddlers - can "Discover Grand Island," a sub-theme for Paddles Up the Niagara. The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce's display booth will offer information about the businesses the group's members represent.
Additionally, "To entertain kids for the family event, the marine division from State Parks and the Army Corps will come out and set up a participation game - a toss of some sort," Belue said. "And folks will be able to enjoy the four-piece - clarinet, banjo, tuba and trombone - ensemble of 23 Skidoo, that will perform popular rhythms from the '20s to the '50s with a unique style."
Furthermore, at the Paddle Fair, paddle-sports retailers will offer the public and participants an opportunity to try out canoes and kayaks through product demos and paddle-sports equipment prizes, and beginners and enthusiasts will have access to additional paddle-sports safety information and to the natural attributes of the Niagara River corridor.
Laura and Jeff Liebel of WEKANU, who are certified ACA instructors, will present lessons on paddling to the public through a freestyle and rescue demonstration. For more information on their instruction, visit the Liebel's website at www.wekanu.com.
People who opt out of paddling will have the opportunity to not only bask in the beauty that Beaver Island State Park has to offer via the nature trails, but to also enjoy the golf course, beach, multiple playgrounds and picnic areas that are available.
Visitors can tour the historic River Lea house located within the park for a lunch fundraiser at 2:30 p.m. (with a required prepaid donation of $14).
All of the other activities are free; however, normal state park entrance fees will apply.
Pre-registration for paddling is available until July 13, and all on-water participants are required to register and complete the waiver forms.
Boat crews must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices, and each participating canoe and kayak will be evaluated before paddling in the event to ensure the safety of every participant.
The first 100 paddlers to register will receive free "Paddles Up Niagara 2013" T-shirts to wear on the event day, July 27.
Upon entering Beaver Island State Park, participants should take the first right toward the sledding hill, or Little Beaver, for parking and launching.
For more information on the Greenway Commission, or to receive or download registration form for Paddles Up Niagara, visit www.niagaragreenway.org.


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Story of Three Sisters©
Misery could not bear stay at home. So went she visiting. Wherever she went she announced herself thus," I am Misery." She came home all the more miserable.
Her sister Joy thought she knew how to amuse herself. She sold everything she had and went visiting. She bought presents to give away. Wherever she went she said," I am Joy!" She was wined and dined and she gave away all she had. At the end those who received her well inquired, "What did you say your name was?"
Joy thought she had wasted her time.
Happiness, the eldest sister went visiting. Wherever she went she announced, "Will you let me stay with you? "and the host asked every time, "Who are you?"
" I am nobody." At this many a door was slammed in her face.
In the end she knocked at one door. A man opened and was told the same she told others. He said,'I am nobody but I have my time to give. I have a body to keep the hearth blazing. You want to keep that going in turns with me?'
She agreed and thus she stayed on. Later he observed that he knew nobody could make him full as she did.


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I recently met with CCCS to set up a debt management plan. I have been doing pretty well paying off debt on my own but my interest rates are high and I thought this would be a good time to bring in help to get me the rest of the way and also free up some monthly income.
But before I sign up I want to make sure I understand if or how this could impact my score. I've seen articles that indicate it will impact my score (if the creditor reports it as "not paid as agreed") and articles that say it will not impact my score at all (FICO doesn't want consumers penalized for joining a plan).
So I thought I would go to the source to ask the question: how will signing up with a debt management plan (presuming I pay on time) impact my credit score?
Many thanks,
Hi...you may want to use the search feature and search the forums in order to read other peoples' experiences.
From my understanding, it has indeed negatively impacted scores and reporting for some people.
LynetteM wrote:
From my understanding, it has indeed negatively impacted scores and reporting for some people.
There is no long term affect on your FICO score from being in a DMP. In the short term, I dont know if there was an affect on my score when I started the program since I was not FICO aware until I was close to finishing the program and anyway it is a mute point since you wont be applying for any credit while in a DMP.
By the time you finish the program, not having any CC debt will give you much higher score then when you started and even if you had lates prior to DMP, by the time your are finished (5 years), they will be 5 years older thus not hurting as much (if any).
The TL statment saying the account was being managed by a CCCS as zero impact on your FICO score and as far as my own experieince goes, hasn't stoped me from getting credit at the best rates.
The trick in being in a DMP is that you must be able to afford the payments and never apply for new credit while in the program. if you have a BofA product in the program, that goes double.
Artsy wrote:
But before I sign up I want to make sure I understand if or how this could impact my score. I've seen articles that indicate it will impact my score (if the creditor reports it as "not paid as agreed") and articles that say it will not impact my score at all (FICO doesn't want consumers penalized for joining a plan).
As long as you are in a CCCS - Debt Managment Plan and not a Debt Settlement Plan, they cannot report you as not paying as agreed since the DMP company negotiates a payment that will have the account PIF in 5 years which obviously is paying much more than the minimum payment you were paying before. You pay the full principle off plus in most cases some interest.
If they are a debt settlement company, they will reduce the principle you owe and it will destory your credit and possibly rip you off in the process.
I was told today by a mortgage loan officer that me being in a DMP was negatively affecting my score. I came on here to see what others said about this topic. He didn't say that I wasn't able to qualify because I was in a DMP, just that it was bringing down my score. Not sure I believe him though.
Any thoughts?
I do not know how my scores were effected while I was in DMP but the biggest effect on my score back then was CC util. IMHO I didnt think DMP had any effect on my score but I was able to get a mortgage while in the program. worst case you could refi once you complete the program since as you pay down the debt, your scores will go up and depending on your negative information, 5 years of DMP will add 5 years to any derog which might also help as well.
Be carefull if you have any BofA products in DMP since they kicked me out of the program when I got a sams card which lead to a major derog which I have to wait 3 more years for it to go away.
Here is a link to an article on the subject
Make sure you understand what the DMP agency is going to do to help you. Sometimes what they do can hurt your score. IE settling account
Great article. I wish I followed
"They need to look at their statements," says Carol Wagner, a certified credit counselor with Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the East Bay. "They need to be vigilant."
More carefuly. I have 3 more years to pay for that mistake.
Split your post to form a new thread within Understanding FICO Scoring


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Pimp - Iceberg Slim
In this book I will take you, the reader, with me into the secret inner world of the pimp. I will lay bare my life and thoughts as a pimp. The account of my brutality and cunning as a pimp will fill many of you with revulsion, however, if one intelligent, valuable young man or woman can be saved from the destructive slime; then the displeasure I have given will have been outweighed by that individual's use of his potential in a socially constructive manner.
Colombian Gang Put A $70,000 Bounty On A Drug-Sniffing Dog
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16 Before And After Photos Shows The Amazing Difference A Loving Family Can Make On An Abandoned Animal
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December 13, 2013 | 3 Comments » | Topics: Compilation
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